Napa Teen Among Victims In Horrific Thousand Oaks Mass Shooting
NAPA (CBS SF) – An 18-year-old girl who grew up in Napa and attended Vintage High School was among the 12 victims killed in the mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks late Wednesday night, KPIX 5 has learned.
A hooded Marine combat veteran dressed all in black entered a country bar and music venue in Southern California Wednesday evening and opened fire, killing 12 people and sending hundreds fleeing in panic before apparently taking his own life, authorities said Thursday.
The rampage took place at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Authorities don't yet have a motive for the shooting.
Alaina Housley was confirmed as one of the victims Thursday, according to a statement from her aunt and uncle, "Sister Sister" actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley.
"Our hearts are broken...Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner," the couple said in the statement.
Flowers had been placed at the gate in front of the Napa home where Housley's family lives.
Housley's mother is a teacher at Vintage High School. Chaplains and grief counselors were reportedly on the school campus Thursday to provide emotional support for students.
The smoky haze from the Camp Fire in Butte County darkened the skies over Vintage High Thursday.
"The weather really represents our mood right now. It hasn't been a good day," said student Harrison Barrett. "Most of my classes, everyone is just gone. They're all in the library right now trying to feel better."
Vintage Principal Sarah O'Connor said Alaina shined in her senior school musical. She also played varsity soccer at Vintage and club soccer for Napa United
"Alaina Housley is exactly the kind of young person that we all want our kids to be," said O'Connor. "I think it was Alaina's authentic genuine connection to people. Seeing the best in others."
After graduation, Alaina moved to Malibu, where she was a freshman at Pepperdine. She was part of a group of about 20 Pepperdine students who went dancing at the Borderline Bar & Grill Wednesday night.
She was last seen on the dance floor. Her college suitemate tweeted that she was still missing just before 2:30 a.m.
A short time later, her family took to social media, asking for prayers.
Thursday afternoon, her parents issued a statement that read, "Words can't describe our grief over losing our daughter, Alaina. She was everything we could hope for in a child: kind, smart, beautiful and respectful."
The statement also said that her parents would "...honor Alaina by focusing on how she lived her life. She would have enjoyed the public debate that is certain to happen after this tragedy. But she would have instisted that it be respectful with an eye towards solving these senseless shooting."
The Napa County Sheriff's Office also issued a statement about the teen who lost her life in the senseless shooting.
"Alaina Housley (2018 Vintage High School Graduate) was a beautiful young woman full of life and ambition. She moved to Southern California to further her education so she could contribute to society, however her dreams were destroyed by a senseless act," the statement read. "The fact that Alaina will never have an opportunity to fulfill her goals is heartbreaking."
The statement went on to offer the Napa County Sheriff's condolences to the Housley family as well as the family of Ventura County Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus and the families of the other ten victims who died.
Two vigils were planned to remember Housley Thursday night. The first vigil was held at the Yountville Community Center at 6 p.m., while the second took place at the Vintage High soccer field where Housley played at 7 p.m.
